THE MUMMY'S BUNDLE

This distinctive collection of jewelry represents the talent of Doug and Mary Hancock. Doug's years as an archeologist in Central America, excavating from Mayan sites in the Guatemalan jungle, inspired the course of this couple's artistry. Seeing such a variety of interesting relics unearthed from the ground inspired Mary, with her education and experience in fashion design, to begin creating jewelry pieces influenced by what she saw excavated. Her work became such a smashing success that she and Doug now work together to create their striking line of jewelry.

Relics of ancient Native American cultures in the Southwest are the inspiration for most of the Mummy's Bundle jewelry featured at Turquoise Tortoise Gallery. "There is a universal wish to connect with the past," Doug explains. "The canyon walls and caves of the southwest are filled with the substance and spirit we try to convey in much of our work."

Mummy's Bundle produces many pieces that feature replicas of pictographs from sites such as Canyon de Chelly, Canyon del Muerto and the Lyman Lake area, all in Arizona, as well as Three Rivers in New Mexico and other impressive sites. Other pieces feature traditional Navajo (Diné) silver buttons and still others White Heart Beads - beads that were heavily traded by the Hudson's Bay Trading Company and that were perhaps their main type of trade beads offered to Native Americans. This style of bead was invented in the late 1400s: red glass is colored using actual gold, causing bead makers to use it sparingly; a less costly color would therefore be used for the inside of the bead and by 1860 only white was used inside, hence the bead's name.

"Being able to share our love for the cultures and relics of the past through our jewelry is extremely rewarding," says Mary. "It provides us with a marvelous excuse to travel, to see the places we want and to discover new ideas we can utilize in our work." This is a couple clearly in touch with the earth around them and the treasures it offers – and who love to share what they've learned.

For today's fashion-conscious art connoisseur Mummy's Bundle is a distinctive jewelry collection to enjoy.